Development of an index of health utilizing factor analysis

A multivariate technique, factor analysis, was used to calculate an index number for each county in Mississippi and an overall state index number for the year 1970. Data on 55 indicators of health were factor analyzed (Principal components, Varimax rotation) and eight factors were extracted. These eight factors were identified as Resource population, Economics, Geriatrics, Social problems, Preventive medicine, Nutrition, Mortality, and Disability. Sixty-two per cent of the total variance was explained by these factors. The index numbers were standardized as percentages for ease of comparison across all 82 counties. Therefore, a multivariate technique has been used to quantify the elusive multidimensional term "health" and that is something which has not previously been adequately accomplished.